Chapter 4 - The First Thing Mark Finally Protected
The account was not mysterious.
That made what followed worse.
Claire’s parents had opened a custodial investment account for Lily when she was born. Birthday checks, Christmas money, and part of Claire’s life-insurance planning had gone into it over the years.
Mark knew exactly what it was.
After Claire died, he became Lily’s custodian under the account paperwork.
Erin looked at him across the basement.
“How much is in it?”
“I don’t know the exact balance.”
“You’re the custodian.”
“Vanessa has handled most of the household finances.”
Erin stared at him.
Mark heard how it sounded.
He went upstairs and logged into the account.
The current balance was lower than he remembered.
Much lower.
There were withdrawals.
Three of them.
$6,200.
$4,500.
$7,700.
Mark felt heat spread across his face.
Erin leaned over his shoulder.
“Where did eighteen thousand four hundred dollars go?”
Mark knew.
Not every detail.
But enough.
The showroom had nearly failed fourteen months earlier after a commercial client went bankrupt owing him more than ninety thousand dollars.
Payroll had been due.
His line of credit was maxed.
Vanessa had told him they could borrow from Lily’s account and put it back after the spring contracts paid.
He had said no.
Then yes.
Once.
At least, that was what he remembered agreeing to.
“I took some of it.”
Erin stepped away as if distance were necessary.
“Some?”
“I authorized ten thousand.”
“There’s eighteen-four gone.”
Mark looked again.
Two withdrawals occurred on dates he recognized.
The third did not.
Vanessa appeared at the basement door.
“I wondered how long it would take.”
Erin rounded on her.
“You touched Lily’s money?”
Vanessa looked at Mark instead.
“Tell her why.”
“I’m trying to understand why there are withdrawals I didn’t approve.”
Vanessa’s expression tightened.
“You wanted the business alive.”
“I approved ten.”
“And then taxes hit. And payroll hit. And Lily’s hospital deductible hit.”
“She hadn’t fallen yet when the last transfer happened.”
Vanessa said nothing.
That silence was enough.
Mark stood.
“Give me every bank password.”
She laughed.
“This is ridiculous.”
“Every password.”
“I run your books.”
“Not anymore.”
Her face changed.
Mark took out his phone and called Dana.
“Remove Vanessa’s access to all company accounts until I get there tomorrow.”
Vanessa stepped toward him.
“You’re destroying your own business over Claire’s notebook?”
“No.”
He glanced upstairs.
“I’m protecting my daughter about three years too late.”
Then he called Lily’s school.
Vanessa listened as Mark removed her from the authorized pickup list.
For the first time since Claire died, Vanessa was no longer being asked to explain herself.
May you like
She was losing access.
And judging by her face, there was something inside that access she was far more afraid of losing than Mark.
